Disconnect switch



J1me 1957 H. THOMMEN ETAL 2,796,477

DISCONNECT SWITCH Filed Aug. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY 5 June 18, 1957 H. THOMMEN ETAL DISCONNE'CT SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1956 fM J y/A/L MM ATTORNEYS United States Patent DISCONNECT SWITCH Hans Thommen, Baden, and Lothar Butz, Nussbaumen, near Baden, Switzerland, assignors to Aktiengesellschaft Brown, Boveri & Cie, Baden, Switzerland, a joint-stock company Application August 13, 1956, Serial No. 603,655

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-48) This invention relates generally to disconnect switches, and more particularly to disconnect switches of the pile type having a movable contact mounted on an insulator pin adapted to cooperate with a stationary contact structurally separated from the insulator pin.

In the known types of pile disconnect switches the mobile contact is generally of a tong construction pivoted laterally to the line carrying the stationary contact member, or vertically movable on a lever support carried by the pin insulator so that the cooperating contact on the line is enveloped by the tong jaws of the mobile contact. In the latter type of disconnect switch, the lever support is generally constructed from a plurality of multisection shear rods.

In the known types of disconnect switches, the lever support and the driving mechanism form a rigid system as soon as the mobile contact arrives at the contact point. However, this rigid system has the disadvantage that contacts may be loosened when the cable carrying the cooperating contact is moved. Furthermore, the wind forces affecting the cable are transferred to the insulator. Finally, the insulating shaft must, in order to receive the required contact pressure, transmit considerable torque through the long lifting arms for the actuation of the mobile contact.

The present invention has been developed to eliminate the aforesaid disadvantages. According to the invention, the movable contact is constructed as a hook and is moved by means of a linkage system in the direction of the cooperating contact and is positioned around the cable carrying the cooperating contact, so that the mobile contact is suspended on the cable, the contact pressure being produced by the counterweight of the switch contact.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will become more apparent from a study of the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational diagram of the operation of the disconnect switch;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the actuation of the mobile contact at an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the disconnect switch.

Referring now to the drawings the disconnect switch is installed on a pin insulator 1 which is mounted upon a fixed support (not shown) on which the linkage driving mechanism is disposed. The movable contact 2 of the switch, constructed as hook, is pivoted through a linkage system on the head 3 of the pin insulator. This linkage system consists of the lever arm 4 carrying the contact 2 flexibly connected through an intermediate arm 5 with the driving arm 6. Both lever arms 4, 5 are, moreover, under the action of a torsion spring 10, so that the lever arm 4 can be moved from its extended position with the intermediate arm 5, only when touching the cooperating contact. The driving arm 6 pivoted on an axis 7 and rigidly mounted on the insulator head 3, communicates "ice with a gear installed in the head of the pin insulator 1 through a pull-rod 8 and a lever 15; said gear is coupled through the rotating insulator 9 with the switch drive means. The stationary cooperating contact, fastened on a line, is designated at 11.

Fig. 1 represents various positions of the disconnect switch during the switching process. In the disconnected state, the mobile contact 2 is disposed in the position I, and the lever arms 4, 5 are in the elongated horizontal position. When engagement of the contacts is desired, the driving arm 6 is turned on the rotating axis 7 by means of the rotary insulating shaft 9, the lever 15, and the pull-rod 8, so that the mobile contact 2 passes by means of the lever arms 4, 5 through the dash-dotted positions 11 and III to be finally engaged with the stationary cooperating contact 11 in the position IV. The mobile contact 2 is thus fulcrumed around the cable carrying the cooperating contact 11, so that the movable contact in the contact position is suspended on the cable or cooperating contact. In the linkage driving system, means are provided to give a certain play in the linkage, as for example the longitudinal aperture 12, in the pull-rod 8, so that the movable contact 2 can follow all cable motions without decoupling the linkage system from the driving system. In Fig. l the lowermost cable position is outlined at V, and the lateral cable positions are indicated at Va and Vb.

To facilitate the gripping of the cooperating contact, it is possible to provide the movable contact 2 with a projecting adapter 13 so that when the mobile contact is suspended on the cooperating contact 11, the contact pressure is produced by the counterweight of the contact. If desired, the contact pressure may be increased by at least one pressure spring, cooperating with the driving arm 6. While Fig. 1 represents the lever system as a single contact arrangement, it is also possible to construct the linkage arrangement as a multiple lever system with a corresponding number of mobile contacts, as shown in Fig. 3, wherein two mobile contacts are available to be actuated by the common driving power.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, we have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of our invention known to us, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus described without departing from the spirit of our invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A pile-type disconnect switch having a movable contact mounted upon an insulator pin adapted to cooperate with a stationary contact spaced from said insulator pin, comprising linkage means secured to said insulator pin and carrying said movable contact, said movable contact being of hooked configuration to grip said stationary contact, means for actuating said linkage means to cause said movable contact to engage said stationary contact, and counterweight means associated with said movable contact for producing the switch contact pressure.

2. A disconnect switch as defined in claim 1 wherein the movable contact is provided with a projecting adapter which facilitates the gripping of the cooperating contact.

3. A disconnect switch as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one element of the lever arrangement is provided with a longitudinal slot so that the movable contact can follow the motions of the cooperating contact.

4. A disconnect switch as defined in claim 1 including spring means affecting the linkage means to intensify the switch contact pressure.

5. A disconnect switch as defined in claim 1 wherein the lowermost link of the linkage means is pivotally ar- 4 7. A disconnect switch as defined in claim 1 including a torsion spring connected between the linkage arm carrying the movable contact and the adjacent driving arm for holding both said arms in an elongated position. 5

No references cited. 

